2019 Gibraltar general election

2019 Gibraltar general election

← 2015 17 October 2019 2023 →
All 17 seats in the Gibraltar Parliament 9 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	70.84% (0.07pp)
First party Second party Third party   Leader Fabian Picardo Keith Azopardi Marlene Hassan-Nahon Party Alliance Social Democrats Together Gibraltar Last election 68.44%, 10 seats 31.56%, 7 seats – Seats won 10 6 1 Seat change 1 New Popular vote 83,122 40,453 32,455 Percentage 52.50% 25.55% 20.50% Swing 15.94pp 6.01pp New
Chief Minister before election Fabian Picardo Socialist Labour Elected Chief Minister Fabian Picardo Socialist Labour

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General elections were held in Gibraltar on 17 October 2019 to elect all 17 members to the fourth Gibraltar Parliament. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo announced the date of the election on Monday 16 September 2019.^[1] On September 2019, it was announced that Libs MP and GSLP/Libs Minister, Neil Costa, would not seek re-election and had his candidacy and seat replaced by Vijay Daryanani of the same party.

The GSLP–Liberal Alliance won their third consecutive election, retaining their majority in the Parliament. Fabian Picardo was returned as Chief Minister of Gibraltar. However both the governing GSLP–Liberal Alliance and the opposition Gibraltar Social Democrats lost votes to new party Together Gibraltar, which won one seat from the GSD.^[2]

Timing and procedure

Under section 38(2) of the Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006, the parliament must be dissolved four years after its first meeting following the last election (unless the Chief Minister advises the Governor of Gibraltar to dissolve parliament sooner). Under section 37 of the Constitution, writs for a general election must be issued within thirty days of the dissolution and the general election must then be held no later than three months after the issuing of a writ.^[3][4] In September 2019, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo formally asked Governor Ed Davis to dissolve parliament and call an election for 17 October 2019.^[1] Following the British tradition, elections in Gibraltar conventionally take place on a Thursday.

MPs were elected through limited voting.

Campaign

The issue of Brexit (formerly due to take place exactly two weeks after election day) was a major theme in the election campaign, with incumbent Chief Minister Fabian Picardo stating that the territory is ready for a 'no deal' Brexit.^[5]

Party slogans

Results

Party or alliance				Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Alliance		Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party	58,576	37.00	7	0
			Liberal Party of Gibraltar	24,546	15.50	3	0
		Total		83,122	52.50	10	0
	Gibraltar Social Democrats			40,453	25.55	6	–1
	Together Gibraltar			32,455	20.50	1	+1
	Independents			2,298	1.45	0	0
Total				158,328	100.00	17	0
Valid votes				16,767	97.85
Invalid/blank votes				368	2.15
Total votes				17,135	100.00
Registered voters/turnout				24,189	70.84
Source: Parliament, Parliament

By candidate

References